Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#1 · State park · 2 hr 33 min east
Caddo Lake State Park
Paddle Big Cypress Bayou under bald cypress draped in Spanish moss at the edge of 26,810-acre Caddo Lake, with 2.5 miles of trails and historic CCC cabins.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Rent a canoe at the office; Hell's Half Acre paddling trail is for experienced paddlers. Alligators live here. No license to fish from shore. Busy March to November; reserve. Two historic cabins are…
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Photo: Downtown Austin, Public domain
#2 · Swimming · 2 hr 52 min south
Barton Springs Pool
A three-acre spring-fed pool in Austin's Zilker Park that stays around 68-70 degrees all year. It is home to the endangered Barton Springs salamander.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round
- Admission (free until March 2027)
Heads-up: Closed Thursdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for cleaning. No pets. Weekend parking fee March through Labor Day. Entry is cashless or at the Zilker Cafe kiosk during construction.
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Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#3 · State park · 29 min southwest
Cedar Hill State Park
Big park on Joe Pool Lake with a gravel swimming beach, the DORBA mountain bike trail and the historic Penn Farm.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Dirt trails close for weather (all dirt trails were closed in early November 2026), so check trail status. Joe Pool Marina is permanently closed. Park often fills; reserve. Assistive chairs…
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Photo: Morcup, CC BY-SA 4.0
#4 · State park · 58 min north
Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Lake park with two units, Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch, offering swimming beaches, fishing, camping and paved and dirt multiuse trails.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: No lifeguards. All-terrain and beach wheelchairs available. DORBA and horse trails close after rain (Isle du Bois DORBA trails were closed in early November 2026), so check the trail update. Pets on…
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Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
#5 · State park · 1 hr 11 min southwest
Cleburne State Park
Wooded park around spring-fed Cedar Lake with swimming, paddling and a technical 6-mile mountain bike loop among nearly 13 miles of trails.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: No-wake lake, no jet skis. Self-service kayak rentals at Cedar Lodge (card only). Busy in spring and summer, so reserve. ADA-accessible covered fishing pier. Pets on a 6-ft leash, not in swim areas.
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Official site
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
#6 · Town · 1 hr 11 min southwest
Granbury
Lake town with a historic square and Lake Granbury, voted USA Today's Best Historic Small Town several times, with festivals all year.
Heads-up: Visit Granbury office at 201 E. Pearl St. Easy to pair with Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim.
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Official site
Photo: GrapevineTxOnline.com, CC BY 2.0
#7 · State park · 1 hr 12 min north
Eisenhower State Park
Bluff-top park on Lake Texoma with a sandy swimming cove, two fishing piers, more than four miles of walking and biking trails and fossils from an ancient ocean.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Rods and tackle can be borrowed; no license needed from shore. Separate OHV trail needs an OHV permit. Reservations recommended. Pets on a 6-ft leash, not in buildings or swim areas.
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Official site
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#8 · State park · 1 hr 25 min west
Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Lake park with Penitentiary Hollow, one of the few natural rock-climbing spots in North Texas, plus lake swimming, fishing and 12.8 miles of trails.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Climbers and rappellers must check in at headquarters; no bouldering or free-climbing. No lifeguards. No fishing license needed from shore; lighted accessible fishing pier. Busy mid-March to…
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Official site
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#9 · State park · 1 hr 27 min east
Tyler State Park
Pine-forest park with a 64-acre spring-fed lake for swimming and paddling and more than 13 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Park store rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats and johnboats (store open Thursday to Monday). 5 mph lake. Often full, so reserve. Pets on a 6-ft leash, not in swim areas.
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Official site
Photo: NetherlandishYankee (talk), Public domain
#10 · Historic site · 1 hr 31 min west
Fort Richardson State Park
Original 1860s buildings of a big frontier Army post at Jacksboro, plus the 9-mile (one way) Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway for hiking, biking and riding and a sand beach on Lake Jacksboro.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Self-guided building tours Saturday and Sunday 10 to 4; guided tours Tuesday to Friday at 10 and 2, free with entry. Buildings are not climate controlled, so tour in the morning in summer. No…
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Official site
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#11 · State park · 2 hr 6 min east
Daingerfield State Park
Pine and hardwood park around Little Pine Lake with swimming, paddling, the 2.4-mile Rustling Leaves Trail and fine fall color.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Paddleboats, boards, canoes and kayaks rent year-round; store open Thursday to Sunday. 5 mph lake. All-terrain wheelchair on request. Buy firewood locally.
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Official site
Photo: Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0
#12 · Town · 2 hr 26 min east
Jefferson
Pre-Civil War town with nearly 100 historic landmarks, historic hotels and B&Bs, walking tours and bayou fun near Caddo Lake.
Heads-up: Visitor center at 305 E. Austin St (about 10 to 4). Download the walking tour and riverfront history maps. Pair with Caddo Lake State Park.
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Official site
Photo: John Bonzo, CC BY 3.0
#13 · State park · 2 hr 34 min southeast
Huntsville State Park
Pine forest park around 210-acre Lake Raven with a swim area, kayak rentals, 21 miles of hiking and biking trails and access to the Lone Star Hiking Trail.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Swim area 10 to 8, no lifeguards. Boats at idle speed only. The Lone Star Hiking Trail is hikers only. Often full, so reserve.
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Official site
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#14 · State park · 2 hr 43 min east
Atlanta State Park
Park on Wright Patman Lake with a designated swimming area, 4.8 miles of hiking trails and hilly park roads for biking.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: No lifeguard. All-terrain wheelchair if you contact the park ahead. Pets on a 6-ft leash, not in swim areas.
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Official site
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#15 · State park · 1 hr 6 min southeast
Purtis Creek State Park
Quiet park around a 355-acre lake with idle-only boating, kayak rentals, swimming and the 4.1-mile Wolfpen Hike and Bike Trail.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Heads-up: Only 50 motor boats at a time. Borrow rods and tackle; no license needed. Night fishing permit costs extra. All-terrain wheelchair on request.
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